Inconsistent Longhorns riding a high, but for how long?

Updated 11:49 pm, Monday, November 5, 2012

Texas quarterback David Ash speaks the truth when he doesn't hesitate to refer to his team as inconsistent.

Texas quarterback David Ash speaks the truth when he doesn't hesitate to refer to his team as inconsistent.

Photo: Lawrence Peart, MBR

Inconsistent Longhorns riding a high, but for how long?

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AUSTIN - As Texas quarterback David Ash sat surrounded by reporters Monday morning, one of them tried to delicately broach the subject of the Longhorns' befuddling unpredictability.

How confident, Ash was asked, could he be about what to expect from himself and from his team each week?

Before he responded, Ash paused, then smiled.

"If you want to say we're inconsistent, you can just say it," he said.

It seems even the 19th-ranked Longhorns realize it's pointless to mince words about their volatile nature. When they've been praised this season, they've usually turned around and played terribly. And just when all outside expectations had evaporated, they played the best game of their season this past Saturday at Texas Tech.

So what will that mean this week against Iowa State in a home game Texas is favored to win by 10 points?

"We'll see," offensive lineman Mason Walters said. "We've been through enough ups and downs this season that we know what it takes to win."

If UT (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) didn't already have enough reasons to be wary of the Cyclones (5-4, 2-4), history provides another. Before the Longhorns beat Tech on Saturday, their last victory over a ranked opponent was at Nebraska in 2010.

More Information

Iowa St. at Texas

When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday; Austin.

TV/radio: Longhorn Network; 97.5 FM.

That upset, much like the one at Tech, was viewed as a breakthrough and a sign that UT finally had things figured out. Seven days later, the Longhorns hosted Iowa State in a midday home game and sleepwalked through a 28-21 loss.

"The lesson that's been learned many times since that game is that every week's different," Walters said.

Last week again proved that theory, but in a good way for the Longhorns. For the first time in almost two months, the UT defense actually had something to brag about, as the struggling unit stifled Tech's running game and limited the Red Raiders to field-goal attempts instead of touchdowns.

Stemming the tide

In October, multiple members of the defense admitted to having lost confidence. But even though the Longhorns are still on pace to give up more yards per game than any team in school history, players said it doesn't feel like a crisis anymore.

Coach Mack Brown said he sees his team's self-image building, but he has warned players about overreacting to the Tech victory. And considering his description of this year's Longhorns as one of his most inconsistent teams ever, he's not just assuming everything will remain on an upward trajectory this weekend.

"Iowa State will be ready to play," Brown said. "The question is if we will be ready to play."